Due March 2010 - just because I'm pregnant at Christmas doesn't mean I'm a taxi driver

[annamama]

... new thread for oldies and newbies due in March! ...

not stalking you all, i promise, but just was on facebook and checked out sarah's status:
"Thank you to everyone who has been thinking of us and wishing Rosie well, We are home and doing ok, back next thurs as the hip is not quite in the right place, shorter operation and only 1 night in, she has a fab purple cast- pics to follow xxxx"

I don't think she'll mind me posting that. she seems v upbeat and says her DD is still same cheeky monkey but with a purple cast on her leg!! So still positive but shame about the 2nd op

Glad you still sticking with us smac and arcadie at size 16 hmpf

I second sports bottles, antibac wipes, hairband and dried apricots. Oh and food- DH bought me cold grapes every day whilst I was being induced and was stuffing cake into my mouth as I was being stitched up because I'd missed lunch and all they could offer me was a cheese salad!!

I didn't get on with any of the BFing clothing they make- I found it exposed more of you that just hoiking up your top would....I just have maternity pjs (red plaid- won't see a mark). And re: wearing stuff that doesn't show gore, I strongly advise an equally garish towel (mine is hideous pink stripe from Primark) that you can throw if you want to, for showers post-birth. And flip flops for the shower.

And small amounts of cash- our hospital has a pay-as-you-go TV/interweb/phone system. So take enough to keep you occupied but not so much that you'll be out of pocket if it gets stolen.

I kept the packing list that I created from a MN thread last time and am working my way through (with a few adjustments based on my last experience) which I'm happy to email if anyone is interested.

Good morning!

Oh gawd, I suppose the packing of hospital bag needs to be seriously considered and I will have to take my head out of the sand to do it !

Spoke to a lady this week who just had her 4th, no problems, but 9lbs 14oz ! I did not need to hear that at this point in the procedings, gah! That's why I felt the need to share with all of you...

Annamama, if you are the snowboarder: V v cool!

hey ladies.

Mummy elk thanks for letting everyone know whats going on i ran out of energy to post last night!!!(very much appreciated!!!)

Rosie is doing really well. op was fine she was in for 5 and 1/2 hours in the end and was a success, had ct ans mri scans on friday and it seems the hip is not quite where it should be(they think a ligament has slipped in the space between the hip socket and ball) so they want to go back in and re position, it means a second much shorter op and another over night stay but we are ok and just glad its picked up now rather than in weeks to come!

Rosie has been a real star, not at all bothered and generally very happy,

had a good first night back home, was up a couple of time to move her to a different position and change her nappy, but better than expected,

i will post a pic in my profile for you to see, xx

sorry for selfish post i will read what i have missed and catch up asap xxx

IWCAS POST THE LINK WOMAN!!!!!!

Sarah - aww bless your DD for being so brave! Hope everything goes to plan from now on.

Yes that's me snowboarding... I was so dying to do it! It's only a tiny slope behind our house and I only managed 2 runs before I got too tired. The worst part was putting the board on with my big belly in the way.

I've quickly got really uncomfortable, remember this from last time, can't breathe properly and feels like bra digging into me under my boobs when I'm sitting down even though I'm wearing 2 bra strap extenders! But I really shouldn't complain, I know there's loads of pg women much worse off than me.

Also getting nervous about the birth and having a newborn, and having 2 kids. HELP! Is it too late to change my mind? (only kidding)

Hi all,

Sarah - v glad to hear that Rosie is doing well. Kids are so amazing in their get-on-with it attitude when faced with tough times at hospital - it's wonderful. Hope everything goes well for the second op.

Just to add to the hospital bag list - I'd recommend some sugary drinks in there too, lucozade or similar can be a good way of getting some energy if things go on a bit. I wasn't allowed to eat anything first time round as they we're worried about my needing an EMCS so was STARVING and then there was no food available and by the time there was I couldn't eat it. I owe the strength to push DD out to Ribena!

I second or third the headband - and take a hairbrush for afterwards.

I confess I haven't packed the hospital bag yet nor have I got baby clothes and kit out of the attic. I'm only 30 weeks now though (i think) so there's a while to go yet ...she says firmly... there is, there is (keep repeating till it comes true). I'm more worried about getting all the rubbish out of the nursery which is still masquerading as my office / a general dumping ground despite all my best efforts. There are just so many bits of paper to find homes for - they can't all go in the bin sadly.

Are any second / third / fourth-timers going to bother with refresher courses from the NCT? Or know how much they cost? I feel like I've not devoted much head-space to this baby and thought this might help. Maybe that's inevitable with a second child - or is it just me? DH is not keen though(he was like a small child in the classes last time round, I understood afterwards why he didn't get more qualifications at school - can't sit still in a classroom setting!).

On the plus side I think we've settled on a name. She's going to be Amy. Now for the wrangle about the middle name...

Arcadie you seem a woman in torment - the round up is here

Anna snowboarding - cool!!

Sarah so glad to hear that your DD is coping so well (and that you are too). Sorry to hear they need another little op, but as you say it's good they picked it up so quickly.

EmLouT also meant to say the other day that I'm glad your LO is doing better

Am still head in the sand about hospital bags (am packing one even with the home birth plans...at the very least it'll be handy to have stuff in one place). At the risk of sounding like a weirdo must say that I'm planning on being naked in the pool (and naked any other time I fancy). It's not like I have anything that the midwives (and my husband) won't have seen before! Maybe it's because I'm planning a homebirth that this isn't something I'm worried about (I do have a tendency to wander about nekkid ). But I'll use a t shirt or something similar for when I'm out of the pool, mainly to avoid draughts (our flat can be quite chilly) rather than for any modesty reasons . And I'm definitely treating myself to a nice new set of PJs for after the birth so thanks for the hot milk link!

Hello ladies

All this talk of hospital bags and birthwear has got me feeling very underprepared! Am also resolving to get myself down to Primark for some cheap n cheerful nighties etc. Last time I gave birth in a big baggy tshirt of DH's which I'd already been using as sleepwear. I do still have it as it wasn't at all 'ruined' by the experience, however I do wear it much less than I used to! I also want to try the birth pool, all being well, so will be investing in a cheap bikini as well, as I'm one of those who prefers not to be totally naked, even when giving birth [prudish face emoticon]...however, you never know I may feel completely different at the time and start stripping at the labour suite door!!

sarah glad your DD is holding up well and is in good spirits.

Been having a lovely weekend so far I must admit. DD stayed with her Gran on Friday night so DH and I had a meal then saw Avatar in 3D - it was very cool! Quite awesome, actually, the special effects are so good you don't even think of them as special effects, you just kind of get immersed in the story. I really enjoyed it. Then on Friday we had a wander round the shops and lunch with by bro and SIL before picking up DD again. It was really nice for DH to have some peace and quiet together after a really busy Christmas and pre-Christmas time.

Here's hoping for a good week for all of us, with minimal heartburn and plenty of relaxation!

Sarah glad your DD is doing well and hope the 2nd op sorts her out. Shame she needs to go back though
Pixie I forgot to say that's good news they are going to let you try for a natural birth with the girls. Fingers crossed it works out for you. I'm with you on wishing the pregnancy was finished with and I've only got the one kicking the hell out of me!

Sarah, better late than never , I am glad to hear your LO got through her op ok and is doing the resilient child thing . Children can really be so impressive! Good to hear you are doing alright too. Hope her recovery is a speedy one and no matter how cool the purple cast is, she gets rid of it soon. Next surgery no doubt will be a doddle....

I am having lots of Braxton-Hicks now as well, Pixie, in fact all the time that I am upright . I cannot walk the length of our house (and no, it does not have an East and a West Wing ) without setting them off.

DS3 is seriously driving me round the bend with his mummy obsession - all v cute and one day I will look back whistfully, I know, but right now, gawd, somebody get this toddler Off My Back. Would really like to have a wee occasionally without him clutching my knees crying because I am not going with him... I am not exaggerating, it is bad. How on earth am I going to sit all hours on my jacksey to BF the new baby???
Gah!
He is so lovely in lots of other respects but this is beginning to stress me.

Sorry, rant over!

Have a nice evening .

chuckle at pacific and her toddler! My DD knows to come looking for me in the loo if she can't find me. I have managed to keep quite regular in the number 2 department but the other day was struggling I had been in the downstairs toilet so long she brought me one of her favourite books!

sarah really pleased op went well. Small second op will be a doddle in comparison.

pacific don't know how any of you cope with this pregnancy lark with a toddler in tow!!! I'm doing ok (constant Braxton hicks as you) but sure it's cos I'm able to do very little on 3 days off each week. If I was running around after DC then I'd have lost the plot months ago!!

pixie be careful what you wish for - two babies inside = easier than two babies outside Just joking- sure with your older brood you'll manage just fine.

Off for a clarins mum to be treatment again tomorrow (snow allowing) 5 weeks left at work - woohoo!!!!

hi all...
random bout of insomnia here - not helped by the fact i do have to be up in less than two hours for work....

Laughing at pacific and smac - feel your pain there!! DD does similar...though recently she's started walking back out of the toilet shouting "phew - mummy stinks" whilst waving her hand in front of her nose.....

god is it really worth going back to bed? can't decide.

oh and anyone NOT getting BH? I'm not sure I got any for my last pg either... does this spell trouble?

Thanks caitni I feel better for having read the sentence IWCAS wrote. A good sentence all round.

Could all of you just stop PACKING YOUR HOSPITAL BAGS please? And no more talk about birth. None. One day in 2 1/2 months time ( less for most of you I know) we will simply wake up to find a beautiful healthy sleeping feeding baby next to us, We will not be tired or sore in our fuzzy areas. Our older children will be playing happily with some ethically farmed natural wooden toys, pausing only to offer help to us change a nappy or rub our feet.

that's what I signed up for.

Elk why are you getting up before 5 to go to work? Don't do that....... [sympathy] and [speedy maternity leave] wishes.

IWCAS Just read your post on 5 interesting things. Feel I know you so much better now!

mummyelk I didn't have any BH with DD and none so far this time round either - yet! Don't know what it means although I do know that as soon as my waters broke contractions started strong and fast!
Thinking about raspberry leaf tea - I didn't start taking it last time til after due date but I've read you can start earlier, will go and do some more research in a minute.
scooby clarins pregnancy treatment sounds fab - I'd love to be pampered

mummyelk hope you got back to sleep, I was awake till 1 then up at 2, 6 then 8, feeling v zombied today

at Smac's and Elk's DDs, that's so cute.

Pacific - I know the feeling having a clingy toddler. At the moment I just give in to it and pick her up whenever she wants to have a mummy hug, and I ask her if she wants to come to the loo with me... I've tried being harder before but it just made it worse. If I'm really gone though she's fine (with daddy or at nursery). Mantra: It's just a phase!

I've started to look through baby clothes in spare room, separating the smallest newborn stuff from the 0-3 months etc. We've got loads of clothes! But if I remember correctly you go through quite a lot as newborn poo tends to leak through nappies... eww!

Yep - poohing is hard with a toddler on you knee!

Desperate to sort out baby and hospital but having to hold off for a month before cluttering house with baby paraphenalia.

Will someone please buy my bloody house!

DS1's school shut again today - roads are fine and all other schools in the area are open. grrr.

Had an intensive NCT ante-natal class this weekend (both days). It was excellent. There were only 4 couples in total - all between 31 and 36 weeks pregnant. We were told to pack our hospital bags NOW. Gulp. (sorry Arcadie!) Top tip - if you go here you can print out a handy checklist.

I've also bought reusable nappies at kiddicare.com - seemed miles cheaper that going direct to the company (Bambino mio).

was it MummyElk who asked about braxton hicks? I didn't ahve any last time and haven't really had any this time to my knowledge. I drank raspberry leaf tea last time towards the end, not sure exaclty when you can start taking i, will have to check...

The lack of braxton hicks made no difference to labour though, I went 2 weeks over, was induced with a pessary (tablet thing that releases hormone in your fanjo) and I was in what I would call 'real' labour (when it got painfull) for just under 5 hours so nice and quick